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What don't you know about the moon? A new study illuminates

Posted: Sep 15 2016 02:50PM MST

Video Posted: Sep 15 2016 02:50PM MST

Updated: Sep 18 2016 12:21PM MST

LOS ANGELES, CA - A recent study published in Nature journal concludes that the moon as we know it is the result of something HUGE (like, the size of planet Mars) violently smashing into Earth and vaporizing along with much of the Earth’s mantle, about 4.5 billion years ago.

By analyzing the potassium isotopes on moon rocks, geoscientists found they were different from those on Earth and had to have resulted from a catastrophic collision.

Everything would’ve swirled together in the hugely hot atmosphere- out of which the incredible, still mysterious, moon eventually condensed.

Only 12 people have ever walked on the surface- but all their footprints are still there, along with each crater and mark from every asteroid, meteoroid, and comet that’s ever hit it. The moon barely has an atmosphere- so there’s no protection and no weather and no wind.

Did you know that the moon is actually egg-shaped and we just see the large end because it’s pointed at the earth?

The gravity on the surface of the moon is one-sixth of Earth's, making it the coolest place to kick a soccer ball. Except that in full sun, it gets up to 260 degrees Fahrenheit and in darkness, temperatures plummet to about -280 degrees--so it’s also the worst place to kick a soccer ball.

So we won’t be colonizing the moon anytime soon- but we’ll never stop staring at it in wonder.